Chess Puzzle #2PKZ8 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen f6; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; pawns a2/c2/c3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/g8; bishops a3/c8; pawns a6/c6/d5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen c7→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen f6→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxa8 — queen c6→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k1r1/2q2p1p/p1p2Q2/3p4/4P3/b1P2P2/P1PK2PP/3R1B1R b q - 2 16

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